1 Corinthians 4:15

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. FOR - I say, 'my sons.' THOUGH YE HAVE TEN THOUSAND - implying that the Corinthians had more "instructors" than was desirable. INSTRUCTORS - tutors [ paidagoogous (G3807)] who had the care of rearing, but not the rights or affection of the father, who alone had begotten them spiritually. IN CHRIST. Paul admits that these "instructors" were not mere legalists, but evangelical teachers. He uses a stronger phrase of himself in begetting them spiritually "in Christ Jesus," implying both the saviour's office and persons. As Paul was the means of regenerating them, and yet 'baptized none of them except Crispus, Gaius, and the household of...

15._For though you had ten thousand. _He had called himself _father_, and now he shows that this title belongs to him peculiarly and specially, inasmuch as he alone has _begotten them in Christ. _In this comparison, however, he has an eye to the false apostles to whom the Corinthians showed all deference, so that Paul was now almost as nothing among them. Accordingly he admonishes them to consider what honor ought to be rendered to a _father_, and what to a _pedagogue _(254) “You entertain respect for those new teachers. To this I have no objection, provided you bear in mind that I am your _father_, while they are merely _pedagogues_. ” Now by claiming for himself authority, he intimates that he is actuated by a different kind of affection from that of those whom they so highly esteemed. “They take pains in instructing you. Be it so. Very different is the love of a _father_,

14-21 In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Whenever the gospel is effectual, it comes not in word only, but also in power, by the Holy Spirit, quickening dead sinners, delivering persons from the slavery of sin and Satan, renewing them both inwardly and outwardly, and comforting, strengthening, and establishing the saints, which cannot be done by the persuasive language of men, but by the power of God. And it is a happy temper, to have the spirit of love...

Verse 1 Corinthians 4:15. _FOR THOUGH YE HAVE TEN THOUSAND INSTRUCTERS_] μυριους παιδαγωγους, _Myriads of leaders_, that is, an indefinite multitude; for so the word is often used. The παιδαγωγος, from which we have our word _pedagogue_, which we improperly apply to a _school master_, was among the Greeks, the person or _servant_ who attended a child, had the general care of him, and who _led him to_ _school_ for the purpose of being instructed by the διδασκαλος, or teacher. It seems there were many at Corinth who offered their services to instruct this people, and who were not well affected towards the apostle. _NOT MANY FATHERS_] Many offer to instruct you who have no _parental_ feeling for you; and how can they? you are not their spiritual children, you stand in this relation to _me_ alone; for in

FOR THOUGH YE HAVE TEN THOUSAND INSTRUCTORS - Though you may have or though you should have. It matters not how many you have, yet it is still true that I only sustain the relation to you of spiritual father, and whatever respect it is proper for you to have toward them, yet there is a special right which I have to admonish you, and a special deference which is due to me, from my early labors among you, and from the fact that you are my spiritual children. INSTRUCTERS - Greek: pedagogues; or those who conducted children to school, and who superintended their conduct out of school hours. Hence, those who had the care of children, or teachers (in general). It is then applied to instructors of any kind. IN CHRIST - In the Christian system or doctrine. The authority which Paul claims here, is that which a father has in preference to such an instructor....

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1 _Judgments, human and Divine, respecting ministers._ 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1 LET A MAN SO ACCOUNT OF US. Since it is inevitable that Christians should form some estimate of the position of their ministers, he proceeds to tell them what that estimate should be. Ministers are not to be unduly magnified, for their position is subordinate; they are not to be unduly depreciated, for if they are faithful they may appeal from frivolous human prejudices and careless depreciations to that only Judge and Master before whom they stand or fall. MINISTERS; here _huperetas; _in...

FOR THOUGH YE HAVE TEN THOUSAND INSTRUCTORS IN CHRIST,.... Or "schoolmasters"; by whom he means the false teachers, whom, for argument sake, he admits to be instructors in Christ, or ministers of his, as in 2 Corinthians 11:23 and who were many, and of whose number the Corinthians boasted; though they were not so numerous as here supposed; for the expression is hyperbolical: perhaps some reference may be had to the multitude of schoolmasters, tutors, and governors, and who also were called אבות, "fathers", which those that were Jews of this church at Corinth had before they believed in Christ; as the members of the great sanhedrim, the great number of doctors, wise men, Scribes and Pharisees, who pretended to instruct them: now though it should be allowed, that the present teachers among them were instrumental in instructing them further in the knowledge of Christ; or as the Ar

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Servants of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1)._ 2. Contrast Between Self-Glorification and Humiliation. (1 Corinthians 4:6). 3. Admonition to Beloved Children. (1 Corinthians 4:14). Paul speaks of himself and the fellow workmen as servants of Christ and the stewards of the mysteries of God. They were serving under Christ. Apollos, though not an Apostle, is included by Paul. Apollos with his great eloquence probably appealed strongly to the Corinthians and thus the party spirit had been fostered among them. But Paul classes Apollos with himself; he might have told the Corinthians that Apollos was not an Apostle and

FATHERLY ADMONITION, ENTREATY, AND WARNING. The tone of mingled severity, irony, and pathos disappears; yet the affection is combined with sternness, and he warns them not to presume on his mildness. He has no desire to shame them, but only to give them his paternal admonition. For he is their only begetter in Christ, though tutors in Christ they may have by the myriad. Let them take after him as good children should; he is sending Timothy, another of his dear children, but a loyal one, who will revive by his conduct their fading memories of their father's real character and behaviour. Some have been inflated by the news that Timothy is coming, as if Paul would not face the church himself. But he means to come, and try the issue with the boasters, not in word but in power, for power not utterance is the note of the Kingdom. It is for the church to decide whether he comes to chastise or i...

THE THREE JUDGMENTS (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)...